Biden flies out after 30 minutes delay

By Cyrus Ombati

US Vice President Joe Biden was forced to stay at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for more than 30 minutes waiting for his wife, Dr Jill Biden, who had toured Starehe Girls in Kiambu.

On Thursday, Biden and his convoy arrived at the airport shortly before midday ready for flight to South Africa but had to wait on learning Jill was yet to arrive.

US President Barack Obama’s deputy engaged his Kenyan counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula in a chat for almost 15 minutes as he waited for Jill.

He also used the time to pose for photo sessions with embassy officials who were present.

Biden boarded his plane after being informed President Kibaki’s motorcade was minutes away from JKIA.

Kibaki, who was also headed for South Africa to attend the World Cup opening ceremonies, departed before Biden. It had been planned that Biden would fly out first before Kibaki followed.

But Biden could not fly out of JKIA at 12.34pm as scheduled because Jill and her entourage were still on a tour of Starehe Girls in Kiambu.

Security at the otherwise busy airport was tight before the arrival of Biden’s motorcade that snaked from the American embassy in Gigiri straight to the airport.

On ground, US Secret Service agents took control of security affairs as they saw off their vice president.

Biden arrived in Kenya on Monday en route to South Africa and held talks with several local and regional leaders.

Jill, accompanied by her daughter Ashley, 29, and granddaughter Maisy, 9 also visited Kibera slums where they met victims living with HIV/ Aids virus.